Please Pray for Devin's Family

It is with an extremely heavy heart I have to report little Devin Davis’ body was located today in lake near his home. Thank you for your prayers, please keep Devin’s family and friends in your prayers during their time of grief.  

grandma's chuckles :^) - Super, Snazzy, Mighty Josiah!

Don't you just love it when your grandchildren use their imaginations?!!! Josiah was at our house the other evening watching Kipper on tv. Kipper was pretending to be "Super Dog" by using a blanket to make a cape. I remembered a small blanket I had and went to find it. When I brought it back, Josiah was happy to have a "cape" so he could be a "super-hero"! He told me he was, Super, Snazzy, Mighty Josiah! 


Then he told me there were "monsters" in the kitchen!!!! I asked him what the monsters looked like and he said they had one blue, purple and green eye, pink hands with pink polka-dots, purple legs and feet with yellow polka-dots, yellow tummies and yellow heads with no hair because the bad guys ate their hair!!!! He ran into the kitchen so he could "stomp" those monsters to "save the world and protect the cookies" (there were freshly baked cookies cooling on the counter) after all, why else would there be one-eyed monsters in my kitchen if it wasn't to eat the cookies?!!! This was followed by lots of "snazzy" "stomping" and the ridding of my kitchen of "monsters"!

grandma's favorite things - Cuisinart Single-Serve Coffee Maker

Cuisinart Single Serve Brewing System - okay, this isn't the most inexpensive item on my "favorite things" list, but it is one of my favorites! This machine uses K-cups to brew a perfect cup of coffee, tea or cocoa - one cup at a time. I love the convenience and the variety this allows - if you want a cup of decaf and someone else whats caffeinated, just select the appropriate K-cup and in a minute you have coffee! 


The best thing about this machine is the "My K-cup reusable coffee filter" which allows you to use any coffee you like to make your own "k-cup"!!!! With this feature you are able to have a very affordable cup of coffee! Very easy to use and it makes a truly wonderful cup of coffee! Definitely one of my favorite things!

The Dr. Seuss Quote for Today -You're On Your Own . . .

We've been looking at Dr. Seuss quotes for the past month and today is the last one. It has been fun to look at some of the many Dr. Seuss quotes and then to think about them in the light of God's Word. So . . . the final Dr. Seuss Quote for today is, "You're on your own. You know what you know. And you are the one who'll decide where to go . . . " Well . . . we do know what we know and we can decide where we will go, but we are not on our own and if we are wise, we will ask God to show us the way we should go! Consider Psalm 25:4,5, "Make your ways known to me, LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth—teach it to me— because you are the God who saves me. I put my hope in you all day long." I for one am so very glad for the truth of these verses! It would be a very sad - and frightening - world if we had to decide where to go based on the things we know, since we all have limited knowledge. I'm so thankful God loves us so much He gave us His word so we can know His ways and learn His paths! I want to Him to lead me in His truth and am so grateful He saved me! I can put my hope in Him all day long! So, when it comes to deciding where I should go, I'm so glad I can turn to God, know He is with me and trust Him to help me know which path to take!

crafting with grandma . . . April Fool's Day Fun!

Just in case you enjoy a fun April Fool's Day joke . . . and are looking for something fun, I thought I'd share this idea I found on Pinterest! This idea involves making your own "fake" ice cubes! If you follow the link you'll find a step-by-step photo tutorial for making fake ice and complete directions which involve warm water, a "mist" of water and surprised reactions! You could either make this to surprise your grandchildren with an April Fool's Day joke, or have them help you for a surprise for their parents! Who might you make these for? Have fun!

grandma's favorite things - the Grandmother Bell!

I'm very happy to let you know about another of my "favorite things" . . . the grandmother bell necklace! I received a grandmother bell necklace for review from Jewelry John . . . and I absolutely love it! I wear it nearly every day! I love how it is unique, tiny and so very pretty! This little silver bell is designed and etched to reflect grandmothers - it has a pie on the top, names for grandma all around  it and a "wooden" spoon for the clapper - it has such a sweet "ring"! You can get bell necklaces for mother, daughter, grand-daughter, friend and host of other beautiful bells, but I really love the grandmother bell!

I Have a Winner . . .

I'm happy to announce Pat Gallagher is the winner in my give-away of the book, A Perfect Pet for Peyton! (You will find the review at this link) Thank you Pat for reading grandma's cookie jar (please message me your address so I can have it sent to you) and thank you Northfield Publishing for sending one book for me to review and for making another available for me to give away!

The Dr. Seuss Quote for Today - I'm Sorry to Say So . . .

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is,  "I'm sorry to say so but, sadly it's true - that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you!" This is true. Bang-ups and hang-ups can and will happen to us. Our world is broken by sin and because of this, hurt, pain and disappointment are part of life. We do not, however; have to be defeated by our bang-ups and hang-ups! Consider Joshua 1:9, " I’ve commanded you to be brave and strong, haven’t I? Don’t be alarmed or terrified, because the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." We do not have to be alarmed or terrified because the LORD our God is with us wherever we go!!!! Look at Psalm 27:1, " The LORD is my light and my salvation. Should I fear anyone? The LORD is a fortress protecting my life. Should I be frightened of anything?" We don't have to fear our bang-ups or hang-ups because God is our light and salvation and He is with us! Look at I Corinthians 15:56-58, "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." God gives us the victory through Jesus so we can be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord because we know our labor is not in vain! So, bring on the bang-ups and hang-ups, God is with us and He gives us the victory!

crafting with grandma - Handprint Easter Lily Brooch!

If you are looking for a special craft you could help your grandchildren make as an Easter gift for their mother . . . take a good look at this craft I found on Pinterest! I love how this "lily" is made from the handprints of children! If you have two grandchildren, you could make it using one handprint from each of them! If you have more than two grandchildren, you could make more than one lily - but however you do it, this is sure to be a craft a mother will cherish . . . you could make an additional one for yourself as grandmothers will cherish it, too! Follow the links and you'll find a photo tutorial for making this "lily" pin - who will you make it for?

I Have a Winner in My Second-Chance Give-Away!

I'm happy to announce Michelle Hubbard is the winner of the Wilton Cushioned Grip Teddy Bear Cookie Cutter in my Second Chance Give-Away! (You'll find the review at this link) Thank you Michelle for reading grandma's cookie jar (please message me your address by April 12th) and thank you Wilton for sending a cookie cutter for me to review and for making another available for me to give away! :^)

grandma's favorite things - fountain pens!

From time to time I will be sharing with you some of my favorite things! So, today I thought I'd share something I particularly enjoy . . . fountain pens! Fountain Pens give you such a classic and stylish way to do an everyday thing . . . write! I love to write with fountain pens and have found over the years Cross makes some of the most amazing fountain pens! I especially love their Sauvage Azurite Blue Crocodile Fountain Pen! This pen is beautiful to look at, it writes reliably, comfortably and makes writing a joy! I have MS and have found inexpensive pens actually make my hand/wrist/arm hurt, but the weight of the Sauvage fountain pen is perfect! I am able to write without strain and pain! If you enjoy writing and would like to treat yourself to a special pen, this is the pen to get!

The Dr. Seuss Quote for Today - Step With Care and Great Tact . . .

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is, "Step with care and great tact. And remember life's a great balancing act!" Life has it's "stages" and "moments" and we need to walk though it with a mind for "balance". Consider Ecclesiastes 3:1-8,11,  "There’s a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens: a time for giving birth and a time for dying, a time for planting and a time for uprooting what was planted, a time for killing and a time for healing, a time for tearing down and a time for building up, a time for crying and a time for laughing, a time for mourning and a time for dancing, a time for throwing stones and a time for gathering stones, a time for embracing and a time for avoiding embraces, a time for searching and a time for losing, a time for keeping and a time for throwing away, a time for tearing and a time for repairing, a time for keeping silent and a time for speaking, a time for loving and a time for hating, a time for war and a time for peace. God has made everything fitting in its time." 

There is a "season" for everything and typically, if we go too far to one "side" or another, we usually end up wishing we had made different decisions. We need to live our lives knowing, "God has made everything fitting in it's time" and then approach our lives with balance! Look at Ephesians 5:15, "So be careful to live your life wisely, not foolishly." Be careful, live wisely - show balance!

Please Pray For Christin's Family . . .

It is with great sadness and deep regret I have to notify you, Christin Baucom missing from Colony, MO, has been located deceased The Missouri State Highway Patrol has confirmed the body of 6-year-old Christin Baucom was found in a pond Wednesday afternoon. Christin was autistic and wandered away from his home - please keep this family in your prayers - his twin brother drowned near the home last August when he wandered away. I can not even begin to imagine the pain this family is going through. This has not been a good day for missing little boys.

Please Pray for Caleb's Family . . .

It is with great sadness and deep regret I have to notify you that Caleb Linn missing from Hardy, AR, has been located deceased. Searchers found him Wednesday in a river at the Arkansas Boy Scout camp where he disappeared last weekend. Caleb went missing Saturday at the 900-acre Kia Kima Scout Reservation near Hardy, Ark. Searchers in boats and on horseback, foot and four-wheelers scoured the valley for days before finding two shirts he had been wearing in the river on Tuesday afternoon. His body was found less than 24 hours later. Thank you for your prayers, please continue to pray for his family.

grandma's cookbook . . . Easy Chocolate Mousse . . . & a Fun Give-Away!

I have a fun give-away of CaliBowls for you and so I thought I'd share a recipe for something delicious which you could put in a bowl . . . and what could be more delicious than chocolate mousse?!!! :^) It can be complicated and a bit tricky to make chocolate mousse, so I found an easy recipe from Betty Crocker . . . I will be making it on Sunday for my family!

Our First Birthday is Almost Here!

We are only a little over a month away from the first birthday/anniversary of grandma's cookie jar! My how this year has flown by! I'll be celebrating all the month of May with some wonderful give-aways . . . just a quick peek back at the last year and some of the give-aways we've had . . . I've given away . . . 

• Three, yes three American Girl Dolls!
• a Knex Roller Coaster building set
• lots of books
• lots of movies
• lots of music
• games
• toys
• a Cuisinart cook and pour pot
• candles
• photo books
• stuffed toys and puppets
• chocolate

And lots more! Plus, in the coming year I'll be giving away additional American Girl Dolls, a Lego Cars 2 building set, books, movies, music, games, a Cuisinart Hot Air Popcorn Popper, A Girl for All Time Doll and much, much more!

Thank you for reading grandma's cookie jar - please share it with the people you know as our second year will be even better than the first year!

The Dr. Seuss Quote For Today - From There to Here . . .

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is, "From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere!" This is mostly true! There are funny things most everywhere . . . some are easier to see than others, but there are funny things most everywhere! 

God created the world and everything in it and some of these things are funny! Consider Colossians 1:16, "Because all things were created by him: both in the heavens and on the earth, the things that are visible and the things that are invisible. Whether they are thrones or powers, or rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for him." God created all things! He created this earth, the trees, flowers, animals, birds . . . everything. When you look at creation, you are able to see many "funny things" . . . just look at the Kinkajou . . . a small animal found in the Central Americas which kinda looks like a cross between a small bear cub, an otter and a monkey! It can turn it's hind feet backward when walking down a tree! The Komondor dog is funny looking . . . it looks like a walking mop! The Dumbo Octopus is also a pretty funny looking thing . . . it has "ear-like fins protruding from the top of their "heads" (actually bodies), resembling the ears of Walt Disney's flying elephant. They are benthic creatures, living at extreme depths, and are some of the rarest of the Octopoda species" The point is, God did create some pretty funny things and I for one am glad! I like knowing God has a "sense of humor"! Plus, God created people and we can be very funny! I know my grandson is funny! When he was 18 months old he was at my home one day and saw a box of Quaker Oats on the counter. He pointed at the Quaker Oats man on the box and said, "Grandma!!!!" I said, "Hey, wait a minute there! That isn't grandma', it is a man!" He smiled, pointed at it again and said, "Lynda!" Funny little boy!!! :^) There are funny things most everywhere and I for one am glad this is true!

Second-Chance Give-Away . . . Wilton Cookie Cutter!

I give away a lot of things on grandma's cookie jar . . . it is one the things I enjoy the most about writing this blog because I LOVE to give things away! When I have a drawing, I message the winner on facebook and post it on my blog. Winners have two weeks to get back to me with the information I need to send their prize to them. If I do not hear from them in the two weeks, then usually I have a second-chance give-away and draw another name . . . today I am announcing another drawing for the Wilton Cushioned Grip Teddy Bear Cookie Cutter! (You'll find the review at this link) I am giving one away - so if you would like to be in this second-chance drawing - which will be on March 29th - please comment below! Also, please check my posts and keep an eye on your message box on facebook so you'll know if you win any of my give-aways! :^)

crafting with grandma . . . Every Princess Needs a Crown!

I found something so sweet and fun on Pinterest yesterday, well . . . I just have to share it with you! If you have a sweet little girl in your life she is sure to be thrilled to have a "crown" of her own and with this crown pattern, you can make her several in different colors! If I had a granddaughter, she would be getting crowns for sure! If my grandsons ever want to pretend to be a prince, I could make one in boy colors, but I think a granddaughter would have great fun with a crown for sure! It could be a fun surprise to tuck into an Easter basket, too! What do you think? Who would you make a crown for?

The Dr. Seuss Quote For Today - Will You Succeed?

The Dr Seuss Quote for today is, "Will you succeed? Yes you will indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed!" Well . . . there are things in life which if we focus ad are persistent, we are likely to succeed, but certainly, most things in life there are not guarantees. 

However; when it comes to knowing and walking with God . . . well, if we follow God's Word, we are 100% guaranteed to succeed because God wants us to know and walk with Him! Consider Jeremiah 29:11-14a, "I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the LORD; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. When you call me and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you search for me, yes, search for me with all your heart, you will find me. I will be present for you, declares the LORD." God wants us to find Him! This is some of the best news we could ever have! God tells us how we can be better than ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed to succeed when it comes to finding Him . . . we need to call on Him, talk with Him, search for Him with all of our heart and then we will find Him because God says He will listen to us and be present for us! This is a promise and guarantee I can cling to!